Sen.-elect Mitt Romney (R-Utah) wrote an op-ed bashing President Donald Trump, but not before Romney’s niece, who also happens to be the chair of the Republican National Committee, slammed him for going after the president.

In the Washington Post op-ed, the incoming senator highlighted the fact that Trump made a “deep descent” at the end of 2018, losing Secretary of Defense James Mattis and chief of staff John Kelly while also highlighting that Trump was “not my choice” to represent the Republican Party as the presidential nominee.

“With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable,” Romney wrote in the op-ed. “And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.”

However, there might be some tension at the Romney family gatherings, as his niece, Ronna McDaniel, slammed her uncle’s words about the president.

She called him out for allegedly feeding the Democrats what they want — a division within the Republican Party as some Republicans attack Trump.

“POTUS is attacked and obstructed by the MSM media and Democrats 24/7,” McDaniel wrote on Twitter. “For an incoming Republican freshman senator to attack [Trump] as their first act feeds into what the Democrats and media want and is disappointing and unproductive.”

Commenting on Trump’s tweeting, Romney wrote:

“I do not intend to comment on every tweet or fault. But I will speak out against significant statements or actions that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions.”

As IJR Red reported, the president caught wind of the incoming senator’s op-ed and took to Twitter to condemn his words.

POTUS is attacked and obstructed by the MSM media and Democrats 24/7. For an incoming Republican freshman senator to attack @realdonaldtrump as their first act feeds into what the Democrats and media want and is disappointing and unproductive. https://t.co/ArhI7Bi7bo

Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast! Question will be, is he a Flake? I hope not. Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful. I won big, and he didn’t. He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!

Trump called on Romney to “be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!”

The incoming senator stated in the op-ed that he will do what is “in the best interest of the country and my state” when it comes to his views on issues.

As Romney is set to be sworn into the Senate on Thursday, two other GOP senators who are vocal critics of Trump, Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), are ending their Senate careers. The question is, as IJR Blue notes, whether Romney will continue to criticize Trump while he’s in the Senate.